title: IgM anti-phenolic glycolipid-I antibody measurements from skin-smear sites: correlation with venous antibody levels and the bacterial index.
abstract: Measurements of anti-phenolic glycolipid-I antibodies were made in 200 matched samples of capillary blood from the skin-smear site, venous blood collected on filter paper, and sera. A close correlation among the three samples was observed and a weaker correlation among the antibody levels and the average and skin-smear bacterial index. Capillary blood from the skin-smear site had a consistently higher level of antibodies in each sample than did the sera. The collection of capillary blood from skin-smear sites is a convenient and economical method of obtaining samples for serology and for measuring local antibody levels, and it may be more sensitive than measurements of antibodies in sera.
authors.affiliation: Anandaban Leprosy Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Butlin
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Neupane
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Failbus
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Roche
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D002648:Child; D018450:Disease Progression; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007918:Leprosy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D015439:Leprosy, Borderline / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D015440:Leprosy, Lepromatous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D015441:Leprosy, Tuberculoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D006017:Glycolipids; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; C045169:phenolic glycolipid I, Mycobacterium leprae